Circuit-breaker.



(LG. BADEAU.

I CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1908.

1,075,749, Patented 0t.14,1913.

' Z5 2024 i Q.

(A Q Z lg 29 g 21 witm aooea Snuculoz PATENT, ()FFICE;

' CHARLES c.- BATDEAU, QFBETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR T0 ROLLER-SMITH,

Specification r Letters'Tatentv comrnnr; A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

cIRoUInenEAKER;

Applicat onarea-Au ustin 1908. Serial no. 447,9s0.

To all whom it may concern,"

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. BADEAU, a

citizen of the United States, residing at j Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and state of Pennsylvarria, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circi1it-Breakers, of whichthe following isa full, clear, and exact-specification.

This invention relates to circuit breakers,

and more particularly has reference to what a are known as overload'switches wherein a circuit is automatically opened in case ofa load exceeding a predetermined amount, whereby translating and other devices are protected :troininyury by reason of continued excess o-ficurrent. Such switches are commonly controlled by means of a magnet also to provide several turns of the overload coil to cause the opening. of the switch.

It is an object of this invention to constructa protection switch wherein one oft-he switch "terminals, the magnet coil and a switch member are formed of a flexible strip of metal, in combination with latchingmeans for holding the switch closed controlled by' the magnet coil. Preferably, in-

the form herein shown, the integral strip comprising the switch terminal, the magnet coil and the switch member is itself-formed to provide the desired resiliency for opening the switch when the latch is tripped: By this construction at least two mechanical connections are avoided as well as a number of parts, whereby the construction is simplified and also the cost of manufacture;

A further object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the fixed contact member and reduce the number of termlnaljoints thereon. y

In circuit breakers of thegeneral type to which this invention relates, the switch is "provided with .'main or primary breaking contacts and also secondary contacts, the lat- Patented out. '14, 19 13.

t er-opening last and provided with carbon- =contact blocks to take the arc and avoid the burning of the-primary contacts A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the secondary contact and brush are removably' fastened to the same casting which supports the primary brush, thereby permitting the secondary contact'to be removed independently of the primary brush.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the calibrating devices, whereby the-scale is formed on an integral part of the frame supporting the movable switch member and the magnet armature is arranged to'register directly with this scale; Vith this construction the parts are placed indirect relation to each other finsuring accuracy and simplicity. v

The invention will be more fully understood in connection with the description of the accompanying drawings, wherein- -i' igure 1 is a vertical section of a-switch embodying the invention;' and Fig- 2 is a bottom-view. v 4

1 represents alsection of a vertlcal base,or

panel-board, having mounted thereon .a. switch frame comprising a" base 2 and two: side frames 3, 3. v Rigidly mounted between theside frames 3, 3 is a stationary magnet.

core 4 and pivoted at 5 between'the sidev frames 3, 3 so as to be attracted by the magnet 4 is a U-shaped armature 6, thesarne comprising a yoke 6 mounted on the plvot 5 and'two arms 7 extending inwardly from the pivot 5 toward the core 4. When the core is sufiiciently energized the armature 7' will be attracted upwardly toward the core, from the position shown 1n Fig. 1. The

yoke 6 is provided with a cam 8 which en gages the end- 9" ofan operating. lever 10 35 passing through the .slot 25 having the. handle 11', pivoted between the side frames 3, 3 at '12. Thelever 10, has journaled in its short end 13 at 14. a roller 15, which latter operates the switch arm 16 to close the same through the roller 17 journaledthereon at 18. Theswitch armfi16 is journaled'between the side frames 3 preferably on the ends of the core 4-, and it is gen erally of a U-shape in cross section tapering toward the upper end. Whenever the axis of the roller is slightly above the lineconnecting the pivots 12 and 18 the switch is closed and kept so until the lever 13 is the switch are all formed of a continuous strip extending from the bus-bar terminal to the switch contact pl-at.-

20 is a supporting block' mounted on the rear of the base 1' to which .a bus-bar as 21 30, will be secured, the bus-bar 21 prefer ably-being clamped by a bolt 22 and nuts 23 between two strips24 which are separated asshown. Each strip is" preferably composed ofa number. of laminae and after are riveted together as at 26. From 26 these strips pass around the core 4 and thence upwardly. to' the contact plate .27 to which the strips 24 are secured at their \upper 81164. I:

28 is a pin carried by the switch arm 16 against which the strips bear.

It will be seen that whenever a suiiicient current flows through the strips 24 the core 4 will be'magnetiz'ed sufficiently to attract the armature 7 and thereby open .the breaker by withdrawing the roller 15 from engage-' 'ment with the roller 17. When this occurs the resiliency of the strips 24 forming the magnet coil will throw the switch 'arm outwardly and downwardly thereby opening the circuit and throwing the handle 11 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1.

is a spring tongue or-catch bearing on a resilient material 30 on the movable switch member. ,Upon release of the movable switch member the spring 'or catch 29 strikes the-hub 60, springs by it and passes under it, and thus cotip'erates with the resilient (SO-material 30 to cushionthe blow against. the hub 60,1and also'prevents the movable ele .ment. from rebounding. The primary contact plate 27 engages a brush 32.which is the switch arm 16 in the base 1 'mounted in a ti -shaped bracket or casting 33 secured to the base 1. To hold the leaves of the brush 32 together a bolt 34 threaded in'the U-shaped casting 33 is provided having nut 35 hearing on awedge block 36. I r

37 'is a. secondary'contaet plate carried by the primary contact plate 27 and bears on a "secondary break 38 and also 39;

At the upper end of contact plate 27 is a carbon block 40 hearing on a similar block-v .41, the contacts 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41'constituting the secondary breaking contacts. The contacts 38, 39, 40.and 41 are all mounted on resilient leaves in the .usual manner. The resilient leaves carrying contacts 39, 41', are bolted at 42, toa bent plate or block 43, which is slotted as at 44 and which itself fits upon the U-s'ha'ped casting 33 and is bolted to thelatter by screws 4-5. The secondary contact leaves pass through the slot 44 of the secondary supporting block 43 and are screwed to the primary brush 32 by ascrew 46. The primary brush leavespass through a slot 47 in the base 1 and are separated and then make direct contact with the other bus-bar connection or cable terminal 48 to be clamped between them by bolt 49 and nuts 50. It will be seen that the secondary cont-act leaves can be removed by simply removing the screws 45 and 46, permitting. the secondary terminals to be removed as a whole and renewed or necessary repairs to be made. V As the secondary termi'nals are subject to the greatest deterioration by reason of arcing, this construction is'advantageous inasmuch as the secondary contacts can. be removed for renewal or rer the primary pair without dismantlin brush. v

From the foregoing description. it will be seen that-there is a continuous strip between one'bus-bar connection or. cable terminal and'the primary brush on one side of the switch, and between the bus-bar terminal or cable connection andthe contact plate on the other side of the switch, thus doing away with the plurality of joints and parts heretofore required.

The. armature 7 normally hangs loosely away from the core, and has an extension 52 with a bent end 53 forming an index passing over an arc-shaped extension of side with a scale as 56 on'which the various current values within the range of the switch will be marked. Mounted in a lug 57 on one of the side frames 3 is a set screw 58 adapted't-o bear against one of the sides of the armature 7 slightly below the yoke, so as to adjust the armature toward-the core. When the set screw is removedy'the armature hangs at its greatest distance from the core,'and the pointer 53 being at a'position frame 3. This arc-shaped-iace is provided oil the scale corresponding to the maximum rate of'capacity of the switch. As the screw is'turned to adjust the armature nearer the core, the index 53 moves doWn'- Wardly on the scale correspOhding' to the lesser current values. It Will' be seen that the nearer the'armature isyheld to the core by the set screw-the less current is required to n agnetize the core sufliciently to attract the armature andopen the swi'tch. By this construction :the scale is formed upon the part which supports the armature and other parts .giving a'direct relation of the parts andconsequent simplicity and accuracy.

Modifications and changes may of course be made in the specific details of construe-- tioii herein described-and illustrated Withsa-id terminal and having a portion bent to form a single turn magnet coil, said member being laminated, throughout its entirelength in adirectioii at right angles to a vertical plane, and a magnet core inclosed by said bent portion.

2. A circuit controlling device comprising a flexible member formed of a plurality of superposed laminae laminated in a direction at right angles to a Vertical plane, said member having a portion bent to form a single turn magnet coil and another portion divided into group s arranged tomake fixed contact with oneor more intermediate con,-

' ductors, and a magnet core embraced by said bent portioin r v 3.. A circuit opening device having in'comf biiiation a movable member, said movable member comprising a flexible strip forming a magnet coil, one end ofsaid strip being adapted 'for connection With'one circuit terminal an'd the other extending to the making V and break ngpart of the circuit opening device,"a tixed .yieldable main contact member adapted for direct connection with the other circuit; terminal and being continuous through the main support, a magnet core, and liltlllS \Vl.1Qlb 'y2l predetermined currentthrough said magnet coil causes said flexible nieiiiberto open the, circuit;

at. A magnetically releasable spring-open; 'ated circuit controlling device comprising a; base, a single flexible resilient circuit controlling member extend ng from -a terminal mounted on said base and having a portion bent toform'a-single turn magnet coil and a spring, and said member being laminated throughout its entire length in a direction 'at right angles to a vertical plane, a magnet core inclosed by said bent portion, means for holding said-flexible member in circuit controlling position, and means controlled by the magnet for releasing said '.member to: permit it to move out of said-position upon passage of a predetermined current;

5. A circuit opening-device comprisinga flexible strip containing a plurality, of

laminaa,'t he laminae at one end) of said strip beingdivided into groups adapted to clamped about an intermediate conductor to make electrical connection therewith, the other. end ofv said strip being movable rela' tively to the othercir'cuit' terminaha core,

a magnet coil around said core and formed integrally With said flexible strip, a Inechj a'nism for holding said strip in circuit clos- 111g position, and an armature operated said magnet for controlling said mechanism to open the circuit.

6. A circuit-opening device having a resilient flexible strip comprising a plurality of laminae, the laminae at one end of said flexible strip being divided into groups adapted to be clamped about an intermediate conductor to make electrical connection therewitlnthe. other end of said flexible strip being movable relatively to the other circuit terminal, a core, a magnet coil around said core and formed integrally 'With said flexible strip, a mechanism for holding said strip in circuit closing position, and an armature operated 'by saidmagnet forcontrolli'ng said" mechanism to open the circuit.

' 7. Ina circuit opening device, the combination of a base support, a"stationai"y contact carried by'said support, a frame in fixed relation to said support, a movable "switch member pivoted to said frame andcarryiiig acontact cooperating with said stationary contact, means for holdingsaid movable sivitchmember in a position to eifectein' gagement of said contacts, a calibrating scale on a front portion of said frame, means including a magnetic armature supported by said frame for opening said movable switch member, a pointer carried by said armature A,

and projecting so as to move over said scale, and means for ad]ust1ng the normal posi .ion

of the armature relatively to said coie to.

predetermine the opening current for r'eleas ing. said switch member.

8. In a circuit opening device, the comf bination with a base support and a contactiiiounted thereon, of a movable switch-mem-- ber carrying a movable contact," a frame for supporting said sivitcli member, said frame being mounted in fixed relation,

to said support, means; carried. by said frame for holding said switch member in a.

position to effect; engagement between-[said contacts, a calibrating scale on a forwardly.

J vertical below the line of movement of in said switch member.

projectingportion of said fr'a 'me disposed scale to predetermine the curi'enf) for openi i said switch member, means including a m ov In testimony whereof I 'aifix my signature able magnetic armature supported by said in presence of two Witnesses. frame for opening said. niovz ble switch H RLES a BADEAIL I member, a polnteiearned by sald armature I v g and projecting so as to move over said scale, witnessestv and means for regulating the position of TRANSUE,

the pointer and armature relatively to said i H. ROLLER g 

